Report: Special counsel Mueller investigating Trump for obstruction of justice

Special counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating Donald Trump for possible obstruction of justice, according to a report by the Washington Post.

Author:
Tegna

Published:
7:59 PM EDT June 14, 2017

Updated:
7:59 PM EDT June 14, 2017

The investigation into ties between President Trump's campaign and the Russian government has now turned to investigating Trump himself for obstruction of justice, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The expansion of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation would represent the clearest legal threat to date for Trump, who has long maintained that he is not personally under investigation — and who reportedly pressured former FBI Director James Comey to say so publicly.

The Post, citing unnamed sources, said the investigation into the president's own conduct began shortly after Trump fired Comey on May 9. That prompted Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to appoint Robert Mueller — himself a former FBI director — as special counsel the following week.

Mueller has scheduled interviews with key national security officials about the matter. They include Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, and his former deputy director, Richard Ledget, the Post reported.

“The FBI’s leak of information regarding the president is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal,’’ said Mark Corallo, spokesman for Trump’s outside legal team. He declined further comment.

But after Comey testified to Congress last week about what he said were Trump's attempts to get Comey to publicly exonerate him, Kasowitz maintained that Trump "was not under investigation as part of any probe into Russian interference."

Rosenstein told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday that he saw no cause for Mueller's dismissal. "Director Mueller is going to have the full independence he needs to conduct that investigation," Rosenstein said

“I appointed him; I stand by that decision,’’ he said. “I will defend the integrity of that investigation."